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Quinshon Judkins Misses Second Straight Practice
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was not practicing Thursday, his second straight absence, according to Daniel Oyefusi. Judkins also sat out Wednesday after working throughout camp up to that point. His absence began one day after a particularly physical Tuesday practice in which he took some extra contact, though Cleveland has not said the two are connected. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards. His season ended in Week 16 with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, but he recovered in time for full offseason work and had been participating normally this summer. Two missed practices in a row now make this more than a one-day maintenance note. Until Cleveland provides some context, Judkins' availability remains an open question.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Chris Olave Appears to Get Day Off Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave appears to be getting the day off Thursday, according to Nick Underhill. Olave was not taking part as the Saints opened their joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, two days after he was heavily involved against Dallas. There hasn't been any indication from Underhill's initial report that an injury is behind Thursday's absence. Olave is coming off the best season of his career, catching 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games while earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Saints also signed him to a multi-year extension shortly before training camp. After a busy summer and a strong showing against the Cowboys earlier this week, Thursday looks like a chance for New Orleans to give its top receiver a break.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Samaje Perine's Redraft Case Has a Little More Life
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is still mostly tied to Chase Brown's health for fantasy, but his summer role is a little more interesting than that sounds. Perine mixed in with the starters in the preseason opener, catching two passes for 12 yards and taking his only carry for seven. Cincinnati has also been leaning into more two-back looks, with Perine staying in the backfield while Brown moves around the formation. That matters. Perine ran for 382 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries last season, and he showed against the Jets that he can still do something with extra work, going for 94 yards and a score on nine carries. Brown isn't losing the job after 1,456 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, so this isn't some backfield battle. Perine just has a little more going on than a pure bench stash. He's still an insurance back first, but Cincinnati may give him enough snaps to stay involved even when Brown is healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalil Shakir Misses Practice With Injury
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is dealing with an injury and did not participate in Tuesday's practice at Highmark Stadium, according to Katherine Fitzgerald. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed Thursday that Shakir and defensive tackle Ed Oliver are both dealing with injuries after sitting out the stadium session. Shakir had been active throughout camp before the absence. He led Buffalo in both receptions and receiving yards last season, catching 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. The Bills added DJ Moore this offseason, but Shakir still figures to have a steady role in a passing game that leaned on him heavily in 2025. Buffalo is also managing a foot/toe sprain for Keon Coleman, so the receiver room has taken a few hits this week. That makes any missed work more notable with Week 1 approaching. Shakir's next practice appearance will be the important part from here.
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Joe Burrow Treating 2026 as Now-or-Never Season
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is treating 2026 like a now-or-never season when it comes to winning a championship, according to Ben Baby. Asked directly about that mindset Thursday, Burrow said, "That's how I'm treating it." Cincinnati is coming off a 6-11 season and has now missed the playoffs three years in a row after making back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2021 and 2022. Burrow only started eight games last year after a toe injury sent him to injured reserve, but he still threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. The urgency isn't new. Burrow said earlier this offseason that this is the best roster he's had in seven seasons with the Bengals, and he's been noticeably more vocal about what he expects from the team. He's entering 2026 with one goal in mind, and he isn't being subtle about it.
Source: Ben Baby
Source: Ben Baby
J.J. McCarthy Likely to Start Saturday Against Ravens
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will more than likely start Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Kyler Murray and many of Minnesota's other starters are unlikely to play after getting two days of work against Baltimore in joint practices this week. That should mean a longer look at McCarthy. He took over after Murray's opening series in the preseason opener against the Giants and completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards while playing the rest of the first half. McCarthy is currently Minnesota's No. 2 quarterback, and Saturday should give him plenty of snaps to keep working in that role. With most of the first-team offense expected to sit, the focus will be on how McCarthy handles a larger chunk of the game against Baltimore.
Source: Kevin Seifert
Source: Kevin Seifert
Sam LaPorta Dealing With Hip Injury
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (hip) is dealing with a hip injury he picked up earlier this week, according to Nolan Bianchi. LaPorta was not practicing Thursday, though head coach Dan Campbell said he doesn't think the issue will threaten the start of his season. Campbell stopped short of guaranteeing that, however. LaPorta was limited to nine games last year after a back injury eventually required surgery, finishing with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns. He spent the offseason rehabbing but was back to full participation when Detroit opened training camp in late July. The new hip issue interrupts what had otherwise been a healthy summer for the fourth-year tight end. Campbell's initial outlook is a positive one for fantasy managers, but LaPorta's progress over the next couple of weeks will determine whether that holds.
Source: Nolan Bianchi
Source: Nolan Bianchi
Jackson Jobe Remains a High-Upside Waiver Wire Target Following Injury Return
After undergoing hybrid Tommy John/internal brace surgery in June 2025, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe missed the remainder of the 2025 season and the first four-plus months of 2026. However, the 24-year-old returned to the big league mound on August 8 and has now made three starts, recording a 1-1 record with a 4.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts across 14 innings. Jobe's stuff looks to be back to where it was before the injury, as he's averaged 98.0 miles per hour on his fastball. He also dominated in his minor league rehab outings before returning to the Tigers, recording a 1.76 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings. Jobe hasn't yet figured out how to generate consistent whiffs at the MLB level, logging just a 17.6% strikeout rate across 67 career big-league innings. Still, the young right-hander was considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball before getting injured and remains a high-upside waiver wire target in leagues where he's not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patrick Mahomes Won't Play in Second Preseason Game
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will not play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Matt McMullen of the team's official website. Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun will once again split up the reps at QB for the Chiefs. Mahomes has been full-go since the start of training camp after tearing the ACL and LCL in his knee late last season, but the Chiefs have been hesitant to use him in a preseason game so far. It remains to be seen if the 30-year-old will get a dress rehearsal in the final preseason contest next Friday against the Seattle Seahawks. But all signs point to Mahomes being ready to roll for the Week 1 season opener against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The three-time Super Bowl MVP is no longer a slam dunk for QB1 status in fantasy football, and the Chiefs could rely heavily on their ground game to aid Mahomes in 2026. Betting against the former 10th overall pick from Texas Tech has never been wise, though. RotoBaller has ranked him as the No. 12 fantasy QB as he and the Chiefs offense look to bounce back this year.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Tyler Mahle Emerging as a Waiver-Wire Target Amidst Current Surge
Since being acquired by the Atlanta Braves from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline, veteran right-hander Tyler Mahle has gotten hot on the mound. Across 18 2/3 innings (three starts) for the Braves, Mahle has allowed just three earned runs while recording 19 strikeouts. The 31-year-old's overall line for the season isn't great, as he's recorded a 4-10 record with a 4.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts across 113 1/3 innings (21 starts). However, Mahle is now in a much better position to rack up wins following the move to Atlanta, and pitching for a contender may have been the jolt he needed to revitalize his 2026 campaign. Mahle had an extended stretch of high-end production as recently as 2025, when he pitched to a 2.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 86 2/3 innings (16 starts) with the Texas Rangers. As a matchup-dependent streamer, fantasy managers should consider Mahle on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
C.J. Stroud to Play a Few Series on Thursday Night
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is set to play a few series in Thursday night's preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders with the first-team offensive line, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Stroud and the first-team O-line will get roughly 25 plays. The Texans will continue their offensive-line evaluation as the team searches for its top five guys heading into the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Stroud and the Texans' O-line are looking to be more consistent in 2026. After a Pro Bowl selection in his first year in the league, Stroud has regressed in each of the last two years and threw for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season starts in Year 3 in 2025. The 24-year-old former second overall pick out of Ohio State just lost one of his top receivers in Jayden Higgins (knee) to a torn ACL, too, which puts a little damper on his bounce-back potential this year. He certainly has the skills to turn it around, but he is going to need some help. Draft him as a low-end QB2 with upside in superflex leagues.
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Brandon Pfaadt Remains a High-End Starting Pitcher Streamer
After a rough start to the season, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt was moved from the starting rotation into a bullpen role in mid-April. However, Pfaadt pitched well out of the pen and has kept up his strong production since being moved back into the rotation in late June. Across his last 60 1/3 innings (10 starts), the 27-year-old has recorded a 7-0 record with a 1.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts. Pfaadt's fantasy upside is limited by his lack of strikeouts, as he's posted just a 17.1% strikeout rate for the season and owns a 21.1% strikeout rate for his career. He's also likely benefited from some batted-ball luck, as his .261 opponent batting average on balls in play in 2026 is significantly below his career mark of .305. Still, Pfaadt's numbers since rejoining the Diamondbacks rotation are hard to ignore. At the very least, he should be viewed as a high-end starting pitcher streamer in leagues where he's available on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jets Looking for Adonai Mitchell to Step Up
The New York Jets are desperately looking for another wide receiver to step up opposite Garrett Wilson, and they are hoping that Adonai Mitchell can be that guy in 2026, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "If he continues on this trajectory right here," receivers coach Shawn Jefferson said of Mitchell, "he will be a really good Robin for our Batman. Big time." The Jets believe that Mitchell is an ascending talent and is ready to pop in his third year in the league after they acquired him from the Indianapolis Colts in 2025. The 23-year-old former second-rounder from Texas failed to be effective in his year-plus with Indy but caught 24 of his 58 targets for 301 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns in eight games to close out the year with the Jets last season. Mitchell is signed through the 2027 season and was a prime target of the Jets' front office in the trade that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts in 2025. His QB situation with Geno Smith running the offense is not ideal, but the Jets are committed to him, and he will have plenty of opportunities to do damage in his first year with the team. Fantasy managers should be looking at Mitchell as a late-round sleeper in upcoming drafts.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Andruw Monasterio a Useful Deep-League Depth Piece to Target
Across 286 plate appearances this season, Boston Red Sox infielder Andruw Monasterio is hitting .261/.319/.424 with six home runs, 37 RBI, 31 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 29-year-old has been hot since the start of July, hitting .305 with three homers, 25 RBI, 16 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his last 149 trips to the plate. Monasterio has seen an extended stretch of regular playing time as Boston's everyday shortstop, which will likely come to an end with the impending return of Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (abdomen) from the 60-day injured list. However, Monasterio's ability to play every infield position should allow him to still earn fantasy-relevant playing time. Monasterio's profile at the plate may not jump off the page in any one area, but he brings balanced, high-floor production and multi-positional eligibility. In deep leagues, he profiles as a valuable depth piece for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jo Adell Still Out With Knee Injury
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jo Adell (knee) will take a seat for the second straight game in Thursday's series finale against the visiting San Francisco Giants, per MLB.com. Adell had a big game on Tuesday with a homer and six RBI, but he left late in that contest against San Fran with soreness in his left knee after fouling a ball off himself. The Guardians will now keep him out for a second straight day, but it is not considered a significant injury, and he could be back in there as early as Friday's series opener at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Fantasy managers will want to check back then for an update on his condition. With rookie Chase DeLauter (hamstring) missing a fourth straight game, Angel Martinez is back in right field for Cleveland on Thursday. The 27-year-old Adell will not help fantasy managers with his batting average or on-base percentage, but he has plenty of pop from the right side and should have more opportunities to drive runs the rest of the way after being traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Guardians at the deadline. He has 19 homers on the year, with three of them coming in his first 13 games with Cleveland.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
